Ho Chi Minh City: Attracting high-quality human resources for growth

Ho Chi Minh City forecasts a 10-15% increase in the labor market by the end of the year.

It is projected that Ho Chi Minh City's labor demand during the peak period at the end of 2025 will increase by 10-15% (equivalent to approximately 18,000-24,000 positions) as businesses ramp up production during the peak consumer, tourism , festival, and Tet holiday seasons.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Employment Service Center (Department of Internal Affairs), this indicates that the city's labor market continues its growth momentum. In particular, sectors such as services, tourism, hospitality, transportation, and food account for a large proportion. The demand for high-quality labor in information technology, finance, accounting, and business administration also continues to increase as many businesses accelerate digital transformation and expand their operations. However, the quality of human resources, the imbalance between supply and demand, and the slow pace of digital transformation in recruitment remain challenges in ensuring job market stability and sustainable human resource development.

The guiding principle in attracting investment to Ho Chi Minh City is to focus on research and development.

Ho Chi Minh City: Attracting high-quality human resources for growth.

Developing and attracting high-quality human resources has been identified by the Resolution of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term as one of the three strategic breakthroughs to help Ho Chi Minh City's economy achieve double-digit growth in the coming period. Currently, the city government is also applying many mechanisms and policies to attract high-quality human resources both domestically and internationally into science and technology and innovation sectors – areas with the potential to create breakthroughs in growth.

A startup manufacturing drones is expected to launch its first factory next year, thanks to preferential land lease policies and credit support in Ho Chi Minh City's High-Tech Park. The startup believes that the city's increased efforts to attract high-quality human resources in the coming period will create further growth momentum for this industry.

Mr. Luong Viet Quoc, founder of Real-time Robotics, stated: "If the policy of attracting high-quality global human resources is implemented, it will be a great advantage. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry presents many challenging problems. Attracting skilled experts will help the UAV industry develop faster."

Mr. Nam Do, co-founder of Physital Labs, shared: "The city could consider how to shorten the learning curve for highly skilled professionals returning from abroad, allowing them to quickly adapt to the realities of Vietnam. This way, these high-quality human resources can focus on creating value."

Human resource development is one of the three strategic breakthroughs outlined in the Resolution of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term, aiming to achieve double-digit growth, with total annual budget spending on science, technology, and digital transformation reaching 4% - 5%.

According to experts, human resources are a prerequisite for the city to restructure its economy by making science, technology, and innovation the main driving force.

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Hoang Ngan - Member of Parliament for Ho Chi Minh City, stated: "The first pillar must be high-tech industry. That industry must be led by domestic enterprises, and the conditions for attracting foreign investors must prioritize high technology."

Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City government is continuing to apply the Central Government's resolutions to implement various policies to attract high-quality human resources. These include reducing income tax for individuals and businesses operating in the technology and innovation sectors; and providing monthly salaries of up to 120 million VND for science and technology leaders.

Dr. Vu Thanh Tu Anh, Senior Lecturer at the School of Public Policy and Management, Fulbright University Vietnam, stated: "The institutional framework and mechanisms for Ho Chi Minh City to foster innovation are crucial. Ho Chi Minh City was once a leader nationwide, but in recent times, it has begun to lack new initiatives. So, how can Ho Chi Minh City regain that spirit of openness and innovation?"

The city government affirms that the guiding principle in attracting investment to Ho Chi Minh City is to focus on research and development. To achieve this, experts suggest that the city needs mechanisms to create better competition in research and commercialization of science and technology projects. This is also a factor in attracting talent.

Source: https://vtv.vn/tp-ho-chi-minh-thu-hut-nhan-luc-chat-luong-cao-cho-tang-truong-100251024134601879.htm